2018-19 NBA season: 5 stars with a point to prove on injury comebacks

#2 Isaiah Thomas

Los Angeles Lakers v Atlanta Hawks

After proclaiming that NBA executives would need to 'back up their Brinks trucks' in order to sign him as a free agent this year last season, IT4 has had to chew in his pride and ego and accept a prove-it veteran's minimum deal with the Denver Nuggets as their backup point guard for the 2018-19 season.

This situation is a far cry from the 2017-18 season, when he had heroic performances studded all over an MVP-caliber season, culminating with a 53-point masterclass against the Washington Wizards following the death of his beloved sister.

For as much of a tough dawg that Thomas is, far too often he lets his mouth do the talking instead of his performances - which were none too great through the past NBA season. A lot of the disrespect he's earned in the last year is because he magnified the defensive problems for the Cavs in the month that he did play for them.

He was much better for the Lakers and helped them by coming through clutch in a couple of close games, but was still not efficient enough to merit a starting berth in their future plans. Therefore, the onus is now squarely on Isaiah to prove that a 29-year-old 5'8" point guard has a place in the NBA as a featured scorer on a sizeable deal.